1798 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. Heraldic Eagle. BB-122, B-14. Rarity-3. Pointed 9, Wide Date. AU-58 (NGC). A visually stunning example that approaches Mint State preservation. Strong satiny luster blankets the fields, and the surfaces remain free of any significant distractions. Overall pearly-gray with hints of champagne-gold iridescence under certain lighting. In addition to the superior preservation, this piece is remarkable for the extremely late die state with catastrophic cracks and die failure most visible at the left obverse border, equivalent to BB Die State VII. It even displays a small reverse crack through the O of OF that Q. David Bowers calls "Rare" in his 2013 reference. Though unlisted in Stephen J. Herrmans Winter 2021 census, it would be tied at CC#2 with just three other examples at the AU-58 level. A significant prize for the advanced specialist. <p>Silver dollar production continued at a good clip into 1798. Official Mint records report that 327,536 examples of the denomination were coined in the 1798 calendar year, including coins bearing dates other than 1798. Bowers estimates that around 235,000 1798-dated coins were actually struck. The BB-122 variety is of moderate conditional rarity within this striking period, with most examples found in the lesser Very Fine levels of preservation. However, above Extremely Fine this die pairing becomes extremely scarce. The condition census just barely breaches the Mint State threshold with one or two pieces, leaving the majority of the census concentrated in the middle to lower About Uncirculated grades. The present lot sits nicely near the top end of this population and has not been offered publicly in over 25 years.</p> From the Dr. Paul and Rosalie Zito Collection. Acquired April 29, 1996
